Building DC microgrids: Planning of an experimental platform with power hardware in the loop features

Abstract

DC power distribution systems for building application are gaining interest both in academic and industrial world, due to potential benefits in terms of energy efficiency and capital savings. These benefits are more evident were the end-use loads are natively DC (e.g., computers, solid-state lighting or variable speed drives for electric motors), like in data centers and commercial buildings, but also in houses. When considering the presence of onsite renewable generation, e.g. PV or micro-wind generators, storage systems and electric vehicles, DC-based building microgrids can bring additional benefits, allowing direct coupling of DC loads and DC Distributed energy Resources (DERs). A number of demonstrating installations have been built and operated around the world, and an effort is being made both in USA and Europe to study different aspects involved in the implementation of a DC distribution system (e.g. safety, protection, control) and to develop standards for DC building application. This paper discusses on the planning of an experimental DC microgrid with power hardware in the loop features at the University of Naples Federico II, Dept. of Electr. Engineering and Inf. Technologies. The microgrid consists of a 3-wire DC bus, with positive, negative and neutral poles, with a voltage range of +/-0÷400 V. The system integrates a number of DERs, like PV, Wind and Fuel Cell generators, battery and super capacitor based storage systems, EV chargers, standard loads and smart loads. It will include also a power-hardware-in-the-loop platform with the aim to enable the real time emulation of single components or parts of the microgrid, or of systems and sub-systems interacting with the microgrid, thus realizing a virtual extension of the scale of the system. Technical features and specifications of the power amplifier to be used as power interface of the PHIL platform will be discussed in detail

DC Microgrid Planning, Operation, and Control: A Comprehensive Review

“…The reliability cost is dependent on the reliability index during the planning horizon. The planning model of experimental DC microgrids in University of Naples Feerico II is presented in [35]. The microgrids consist of several generation mixes such as PV, wind, fuel cell, supercapacitor, and battery energy storages, DC loads, smart loads, and electric vehicle (EV) chargers.…”

BLOND, a building-level office environment dataset of typical electrical appliances

“…Information and Communication Technology (ICT) devices, including computers, monitors, networking equipment, and battery chargers, mostly use direct current (DC) and require a power supply module. Recently, field research and trials have been conducted with buildings offering DC power sockets, removing the need for SMPSs 27 , 28 . Recent studies found that SMPSs can have a significant effect on EEM accuracy and can cause deviations of up to 582% when comparing smart meters to conventional meters 29 .…”

Expert assessments on the future of direct current in buildings

“…Current research and development efforts in DC power systems for buildings are international [8,[10][11][12][13][14][15]. In Japan and South Korea, partnerships between government, academic, and industrial groups have made these two nations leaders in the technological development of DC-powered buildings and microgrids [8].…”